Tincknell Drives Le Mans-Winning Audi

Photo: Audi

European Le Mans Series title contender Harry Tincknell got a unique chance to sample a top-level LMP1 car recently, as the rising star turned laps in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

Tincknell, who claimed LMP2 class victory at Le Mans this year with Jota Sport, took part in a test at Misano in August for Motorsport magazine, which was among the select publications invited for a track day with the diesel-powered hybrid prototype.

“Driving the Audi was a dream come true and it is days like I had at Misano which I have been working for my whole career to experience,” Tincknell said.

“The first experience of the putting my foot down was incredible. The power was like nothing that I had ever experienced before. The car felt like a spaceship for the first two laps, huge levels of downforce and ultra efficient braking.”

The 22-year-old Briton, who sits second in the ELMS LMP2 standings heading into next month’s season finale at Estoril, was impressed with his first experience in a LMP1 car.

“Driving a diesel race car for the first time, the immediate thing you notice is how quiet it is,” he said. “In the braking zones you hear the hybrid working hard to regenerate the energy to use on the next straight.

“Of course it was an amazing experience to drive a car so well engineered. I’m currently racing in the LMP2 class which is only one step down from these cars.

“It’s a big step up in terms of speed but in some areas, the LMP2 car is very close, in the slow speed corners for example, so I think I am in the perfect place to learn and hopefully one day step up into that pinnacle class of sports car racing.”

Tincknell, who is being mentored by three-time Le Mans winner Allan McNish, made a visit to Circuit of The Americas last weekend to soak in all of the FIA WEC and TUDOR Championship action.

He’ll return to the wheel of Jota Sport’s Zytek Z11SN Nissan for the ELMS title-deciding race on Oct. 18-19.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John